BROOKE Salske had been feeling nervous about school last month so her older sister Emily dropped her off at her classroom to make sure she was all right.

The morning of the day the sisters died on January 31 was recounted by family friend Dennis Baker in a eulogy at the Baranduda girls’ funeral in Wodonga yesterday.

Mr Baker said Emily, 10, could barely contain her excitement to be back at Baranduda Primary School, but was always looking out for Brooke, 7.

“They truly were the best of friends and it is comforting to know their bond would be for eternity,” Mr Baker said.

“They had different personalities, yet they fitted together perfectly.

“It cannot be imagined that one could live without the other as their love for each other was so strong and true.”

About 700 people filled the New Life Chapel, formerly known as Faith City, to celebrate the lives of the sisters who were killed when the car driven by their father Shaun Salske ran off Baranduda Boulevard and crashed into a tree.

A big photo of the sisters, their noses pushed together with grins on their faces, was projected onto a screen above the altar.

Purple, Emily’s favourite colour, and yellow, Brooke’s latest favourite colour, were prominently featured during the service with purple and yellow balloons and friends and classmates who wore coloured ribbons in their hair and on their clothing.

Children supported children as they were invited to place their messages to the sisters in a memorial box at the front of the room.

Between the tears there were also smiles as children couldn’t help but start dancing when Emily’s favourite song Timber began playing.

Maybe, Pastor Michael Geerling said, Emily and Brooke, who both loved dancing, were doing exactly that in Heaven.

“They are going to turn the music up and they are going to dance like they own the place,” Mr Geerling said.

Mr Baker said Emily was passionate about dancing and dreamed of becoming a dancer on a cruise ship after a recent trip with her family.

He said she was a girl who showed great empathy and was known for her infectious “kookaburra” laugh; while her sister with the mischievous twinkle in her eye carried the same kind traits.

“Brooke would always take three hats to school just in case one of her friends had forgotten to bring one,” Mr Baker said.

“On the morning she died she had put her hat in her youngest cousin’s school bag as she had only just started prep and Brooke wanted to make sure she had a hat for play-time.”

Mr Baker said their mother, Debbie Andrew, and the sisters’ wider family were overwhelmed by the support they had received.

“They would like to thank everyone for their support,” Mr Baker said.

“Emily and Brooke’s death means the world has lost two shining lives.

“Although it is difficult to make sense why two sparkling children would be taken away from everyone who loved them, we must take comfort in knowing they are smiling down on us.”